Thermocouple element and device similarly constructed



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,612

R. H. STEIN THERMOCCUPLE ELEMENT AND DEVICE SIMILARLY CONSTRUCTED Original Filed Feb. 27-, 1922 Rudolph H. Siein Patented Dec. 21, 1926..

warren RUDOLPH 1'1. STEEBT,

OF 'VOQDl-IAVEN, NEW) YORK.

THERMGCOUPLE ELEIJZEFE'T .ti't l; DEVICE SHEILAELY CONSTRUCTED.

Original application filed February 2'7, 19:22, Serial 2, 1923. Ser

My invention relates to thermo-couple elements and has for an object the construction of a thermo-couple element without those elements which corrode allowing deterioration and final breaking down of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermo-couple element so constructed that a plurality of couples may be connected in series whereby the electro-motive force may be increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thermo-couple element which is simple in construction, durable and efiicient in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, conr bination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a view showing the means of holding the thermo-couple element during the process of assembling,

Fig. 2 is an element in the initial stage of completion,

Fig. 3 is an element in a following stage of completion,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a complete element.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, 1 have shown a holding device or jig comprising an insulated base 10 and upright arms 11, which taken in connection with clamping members 12 form jaws between which a thermo-couple element or other device is held while being soldered. The clamping members 12 are fastened to the arms 11 by screws 13, and have on their lower faces adjacent one end projections which engage in recesses 14k in the upper faces of the arms to prevent accidental displacement of the arms. The electric circuit for soldering is connected to binding posts 15 and 16, these also serving as a means for securing the arms 11 and 12 to the base 10. I also show screws 17 as an additional means for fastening these two parts together, but it is to be understood that any simple and eiiicient method may be employed for this purpose.

A thermo-couple element, Fig. 41, comprises terminals 18, heater strip 19, which =0. 539,744. Divided and this application filed May preferably consists of platinum iridium and which is secured to the terminals, cathode 20, and anode 21, these electrodes being secured to the heater-strip as will be later more fully described.

It has been the custom in the past to construct the electrodes of a thermo-couple of iron and constantan, but these materials quickly corrode and deteriorate when exposed to salt air or to the action of electricity, causing subsequent breaking down of the couple. To "prevent this deterioration, it has become necessary to substitute other materials for the electrodes and I have discovered that manganin (copper-nickel-manganese alloy) wire for the anode and advance (CQPPBldilCliGl alloy) wire for the cathode are very efficient materials.

In the manufacture of my element, I first connect the heater strip with the terminals and then pierce a hole therethrough large enough to allow passage of the two electrodes of the couple as shown in Fig. 2. The element is then placed in the jig and the terminals securely held therein by the clamping members 12 after which a very small amount of dissolved borax and silver solder, or other suitable flux and solder, is applied at the junction of the crossed electrodes where they pass through the opening and a current of sufiicient value to cause enough heat to fuse the solder is applied. The current is allowed to pass through the heating element at a volume to fuse the solder for an instant only, and discontinued as soon as the solder flows in order to prevent it from spreading over the heater strip. Care must be exercised to use no more solder than is needed to make a good joint, as an excess impairs the efficiency of the element, making it sluggish in responding to current impulses. After the electrodes are sufiiciently soldered, they are clipped off as shown in Fig.

lit to be under tood that while this invention has been described applying particularly to a thermocouple element, and especially those to be used in connection with radio instruments, it may be as successfully employed in connection with electrical devices of any type requiring thermo-couples, or other similarly constructed devices. It will be further understood that the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forms only the prelei-red and general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in construction, proportion, and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the scope of the appended claims, and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 539,744, filed February 27, 1922.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A thermo-couple element comprising a pierced heating element, and the unct-nre of a pair of thermocouple electrodes passed therethrough and connected thereto.

2. A thermo-couple element comprising a pierced heating current conducting strip and thermo-conple electrodes passed therethrough and in contact therewith, said electrodes being constructed from a material non-corrosive under the action of the electric current or salt air.

3. A thermo-couple element comprising a heating element of platinum iridium, and a thermo-couple associated therewith having an anode of coppernickel-manganese alloy and a cathode of copper-nickel alloy.

RUDOLPH H. STEIN. 

